Reader Discussion: Do You Watch Gaming Videos On YouTube?

Sony's policy on allowing external video-capture devices is still unknown, which has us asking: Does it affect you?

User habits have changed since the current generation of gaming hardware was released, and the next generation reflects that. Both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 allow users to capture and share game footage with people, though in the PS4's case that comes with a caveat. We're still waiting to hear more on Sony's stance on whether the console will support the external capture devices that current game streamers use. News Editor Mike Futter wrote an opinion piece this morning explaining why he thinks it's important. For this discussion, let's back up a little further.

Do you watch gaming videos on YouTube or similar streaming services? When you're stuck on a puzzle or a boss fight, do you fire up a walkthrough video to find a solution? Do you watch let's play videos for entertainment? [Shameless plug: Watchours!] Or, on the other side of the spectrum, do you think games are for playing and not for watching? Does the idea of sitting idle while another person plays a game bore you to tears?

It's how I get by at work. Mostly the Gameinformer, Achievement hunter/rooster teeth videos, frankieonpcin1080p, and birgirpall. Some of the stuff on their is so cringeworthy and terrible I don't know how people think uploading certain video are funny in the least. Like pewdiepie for instance. Maybe it's because I'm getting older, and the apparent targeting of the younger audience. Maybe I'll write a blog about this...

Well can't deny it. Really watch stuff of ARMAII and III. A little Battlefield. Mostly most of my YouTubing is watching MineCraft related stuff. Typically mods for MC. Most do to from Direwolf20 as he is the lucky SOB that gets to mess on the closed to the public ForeCraft 2 server with the Mod devs. Also may watch other random stuff. Did for a time SimCity(2013) but stopped as the videos dried up. Yet beyond that...not so much as I can't stand some people with their fake personalities or others that just ruin a video by cursing ever other word. It is not cool.

I might watch a couple of minutes but generally have to turn the sound off as I don't like many of the people that comment on the videos. I usually watch enough to help find something I missed or if there is an obscure cutscene I don't feel like jumping through the hoops to get but want to see (Persona 4 I wanted to know what happened when someone died but didn't want to sleep for a whole month to do it.)

Yeah, used to be a big fan of PewDiePie but that has recently declined. I spend most of my time on YouTube watching the guys on the Mindcrack server play a wide assortment of games though so yes. Also, my friends and I record gameplay sometimes, and we use my friends Elgato so it would matter to me.

Only when Tobuscus uploads them and when I'm really (I mean really, really, really [usually while playing an old game]) stuck. That rarely happens though. I prefer to play the games myself. And I hate Pewdiepie. Sorry'n'sh!t.

I watch alot of Let's Plays on Roosterteeth/Achievement Hunter's Let's Play channel. Mostly the Minecraft Let's Plays they do. Fun Fact: The Tower of Pimps (four gold blocks standing upon one block of obsidian), the trophy they compete for every week has made it into the xbox 360 edition tutorial world, cool stuff like that wouldn't happen if you couldn't capture externally.

Almost never. Generally only when I get really stuck on something and a video clip might help, but even then, I'm pretty stubborn in my gaming, and will prefer to fail several dozen times before I head to YouTube for some help. That's really about the only reason.

I watch gameplay videos on YouTube specifically because it has the chromecast ability. Love that feature!

But more importantly as you stated, i go there if i'm stuck in a game. Whether it be a boss battle or finding hidden packages. YouTube is a gold mine for instructional videos for when you're stuck in a game.

One of the features I'm actually looking forward to most on XBOX one is being able to switch between my game and the internet instantly. Yesterday I was playing Skyrim, and I needed to find out where to get some food item, so I had to run downstairs, turn on my PC, and look it up. It gets so irritating having to do that for some games. It'll be so much more convenient when my games and the internet are in the same place.